Coin-controlled dispensing device.



No. 677,748. Patented July 2, 190|.

1- n. SULLIVAN.

GOIN CONTBOLLED DISPENSING DEVHIE.

. (Applcatn Med Lug. 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

l [Nfl/Vla@ UNITED STATES v PATENT EETcE.

DANIEL SULLIVAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNVOR TO CHARLES F. KELLY AND HENRY Ll WEEKE, OF SAME PLACE.

COlN-CONTROLLVED DISPENSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f .Letters Patent NO. 677,748, dated J' uly 2, 1901. Application lcd August 20, 1900. Serial No. 27,434. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in coin-controlled dispensing devices; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the receptacle closed, showing parts in section, the front Wall or cover-plate being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the receptacle with the lid removed. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the lid'thrown open and the bonbon-box raised to its highest position. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing the construction of the operating-spindle and milled head carried thereby.

One object of my invention is to provide a casing 0r receptacle intended to be mounted on the backs of opera-chairs and which is to contain a package of candy or other commodity normally closed against access, but which is delivered to the purchaser upon the introduction of a coin of proper denomination and the manipulation of the coin-controlling mechanism in the proper direction.

A further object is to construct a casin g that will preclude the possibility of unauthorized persons inserting an empty or fictitious package therein or reinserting the original package after the contents thereof have been consumed. The advantages of the present invention will be better apparent from a detailed description thereof,whic`n is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a receptacle having a hinged cover or lid 2, the latter being adapted (under circumstances to loe presently referred to) to be swung to an open position by the outer terminal or arm of aspring 3, coiled aboutapin 4, mounted transversely between the walls of a pocket or compartment 5 at one end of the receptacle, the

inner arm of the spring bearing against the rear wall of the receptacle. The spring-arm bearing against the hinged lid is preferably confined within a tubular housing or loop 6, carried by the lid, the said loop being adapted to enter the pocket 5 when the lid is closed. At the bottom of the receptacle rests a platform or plate 7, which is provided with yielding legs in the form of downwardly-curved slotted springs 8 8, adapted to yield and spread lengthwise of the platform or plate 7, the springs being guided and the platform held in place by the horizontal portions of the guide-rods 9 9, projecting from and secured to the Hoor of the receptacle and passed through the slot of each leg or spring 8. When the lid 2 is closed, it serves to confine between it and the platform 7 a bonbon-box B, to fully Y insert which in the receptacle it is necessary to depress the platform, thereby causing a spreading and yielding of thelegs 8 8. When,

however, the lid 2 is opened, as subsequently to be explained, under the action of the spring 3, the elasticity or resilience of the springs 8 8 now released will cause the same to contract, and thus raise the platform and simultaneously elevate the box B su iciently to enable the same to be withdrawn from the receptacle. In thus rising the platform is followed up by the follower 10, which is in the form of a U-shaped rod with the terminals pivotally mounted between the rear wall and front double wall of the receptacle, the swing of the follower after having once assumed a vertical position being limited by a lug ll, carried at the base of the receptacle. The front spindle or pivotal end of the follower terminates in a polygonal head or end to receive the corresponding socket of a key, (not shown,) Whereby the follower can be tilted or swung downwardly against the bottom of the receptacle to allow for the depression of the platform upon the insertion of the box B. When the boxB is ejected or raised by the platform to the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, the follower swingsk upward under the action of the coiled spring l2, (one end of which is secured to the spindle of the follower and the other end to the wall of the receptacle,) the follower remaining in its raised position and preventing the insertion of an empty box into the recep- IOO tacle by unscrupulous persons, for it is obelevated the lid 2 cannot close, since the box B cannot be depressed sufficiently to allow said lid to close.

The manner of opening the lid by the introduction of a coin (a dirne) is as follows: The front Wall of the receptacle is a hollow or a double one, and carried by the inner `member thereof is a plate 13, provided with curved ribs 14, forming with the cover-plate or outer member a suitable coin-chute, with which communicates a coin-slot 15, formed near the edge of the lid 2. Mounted on a block 16 adjacent to the plate 13 is a trigger 17, one end of which is adapted to engage the catch 18, secured to the lid, when the lid is closed, the engagement being effected by the resilience of a spring 19, the free end of which bears against the long arm of the trigger on one side of. its pivotal point, the fixed end being secured to the inner member of the front double Wall. Mounted on the plate 13 and projecting through the front wall of the receptacle is a spindle 20, to which is secured a coin-advancingr arm 21, the faces of the arm 2l and trigger 17 being in the same planethat is, flush with one another. The arm 21 is limited in its oscillations by pegs 22 22. Normally the arm 21 occupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, completing the chute through which the coin is obliged to roll. After the coin is introduced the operator turns the spindle 2O to the right, (by seizing the milled head 23 thereof,) the arm 21 under the circumstances advancing or shoving the coin against the long arm of the trigger 17 and tilting the latter out of engagement with the lid-catch 18, when the spring 3 will automatically force the lid to an open position, and the spring-legs 8 8 will elevate the box B sufficiently to enable the same to be seized by the purchaser. The spindle 2O and arm 21 are restored to their original position by a coiled spring 24, one end of which is secured to the spindle and the other to the Wall of the boss 25, about which the milled head 23 revolves. To insert a fresh box of candy into the receptacle,- the follower 10 is depressed, as indicated, thereby permitting the depression of the platform and insertion of a box and closing of the lid 2 thereover, the lid locking automatically by the trigger snapping against the catch 18 under the action of the spring 19. After the coin has passed the trigger it rolls into the money box or compartment 26, to which access may be had through a door-plate 27, temporarily held in place by the bolt of a lock carried in the rear thereof, (not shown,) the lock being operated through the keyhole 2S by any kind of key. (Not shown.) The nature or construction of cover-plate 27 is immaterial, as the moneycompartment might be closed in a variety of ways. The box B can be seen through a transparent window or glass plate 29, forming a section of the cover-plate of the receptacle.

I do not limit the application of the present device to the backs of opera-chairs; but the same may be used in a variety of Ways; nor do I limit myself to the character of commodity sold or dispensed nor to the details of construction herein set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a coin-controlled dispensing device, a suitable receptacle, a spring-actuated platform located at the bottom of the same for the support of a bonbon-box, means for locking the platform against depression when once in its elevated position, a spring-actuated lidhinged to the receptacle, a catch carried by the lid, a spring-controlled pivoted trigger located wholly above the platform and engaging the catch,a rotatable spindle mounted adjacent to the trigger, a spring for actuating the spindle in one direction, an arm carried by the spindle adapted to advance the coin against the lower arm of the trigger, a coin-chute, a coin-slot formed in the lid communicating with the coin-chute, the coin 'being deposited in a compartment located adjacent to the lower arm of the trigger after the coin has passed said trigger, substantially as set forth.

2. In a coin-controlled dispensing device, a receptacle, a spring-actuated platform located at the bottom of the same, a springcontrolled rotatable follower. adapted to engage the bottom of the platform, and means for limiting the movement of the follower when the platform has been elevated to its highest position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL SULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, GEO. L. BELFRY.

IOO 

